In the past century, Alpine glaciers are estimated to have lost about half of their total area. <br /><br /> Today, Italy’s 900 glaciers cover a total area of 370 square kilometres compared to 570 square kilometres half a century ago. The latest studies show a growing fragmentation of the glaciers, and experts believe many could disappear within the next 20 years. <br /><br /> The Careser glacier in the Ortler Alps is one of them.<br /><br /> “The glacier keeps retreating. It has lost 80% of its surface, mostly in the past 25 years. Over the past 15 years, it has melted twice as fast as in previous decades, which means it has lost 50% of its surface since the year 2000. It is likely that within 20 years, nothing will remain of it,” says Alberto Trenti, Director at Meteo Trentino. <br /><br /> Since the start of the 20th century, the Careser glacier has receded more than one kilometre. Nowadays it is divided into 6 parts and dark crevasses appear through the ice layer. <br /><br /> In the past five years alone, the ice level has recede
